The saga of Fart Turd Sports, part 1
‘Real people talking about real shit’
If you take Dick Senormous at his word, the former shock jock/CEO of “Fart Turd Sports” would have you believe that sports radio died in 2018.
By then, Senormous says sports radio was profit-margined to death. Regional coverage was replaced with national talents who didn’t know their audiences. He describes these radio personalities as “the type of sports fan who drank espressos for breakfast, ate lunch at Sweetgreen, and owned a Peloton.”
In contrast, Senormous describes himself as a “blue collar sports fan” who grew to “hate the morning and afternoon commutes.” To his surprise, he wasn’t alone.
As an example, Senormous points out the infamous “Don’t care” call. In the now-viral clip, a truck driver simply known as Mac interrupted an October 2018 broadcast of "Mike & Mike and Mike & Molly,” repeatedly yelling, “Don’t care.” The producer was away from the desk (read: checking the fridge) and couldn’t cut the phone off. The “Don’t care” call developed into a massive blunder, one that blooper magazine Blunder Bust called “the moment when M&M and M&M became irrelevant.” However bad the gag was for that show, the clip resonated with listeners from sea to shining sea.
“Here’s Mac telling it like this,” Senormous says. “You know what? I didn’t care neither.”
Taking a cue from Mac, Senormous set out to challenge the know-it-alls who owned the spotlight. With co-hosts and friends Titty (real name: Lenlee) and Jimmy (real name: Jimmy Jons), Senormous launched “Fart Turd Sports” in winter 2018 from his basement in Donaldsonville, Louisiana.
The AM radio show quickly became one of the most popular sports programs of all-time. How? For one, the trio didn’t talk about social issues. None of them had ever played sports past a junior varsity level. Instead, the show aimed to be real and fun.
“Usually, the two don’t mix,” Senormous says, “but that show? It was real fun.”
That fun, however, wouldn’t last.
By January 2020, “Fart Turd Sports” had grown so popular that Senormous, Titty and Jimmy could no longer handle producing duties. After jumping to the FM dial in 2019, the trio hired Ryan MacClane, a big shot with a mile-long resume, including a long stint working for TNN Sports in the late ‘90s. MacClane’s claim to fame was getting exclusivity rights to Destruction Derby for the fledgling network.
When TNN Sports turned into Spike Bang TV in 2002, MacClane was promptly fired. Over the next 17 years, he worked as a producer for the Shopping Channel’s midnight shift. By the end of 2019, MacClane resigned, claiming he missed the sports media grind.
“I saw this Craigslist ad that said ‘Sports Radio Producer Needed ASAP,’” MacClane says. “I thought, ‘Hell, that’s me.’”
Given the show’s name, MacClane thought “Fart Turd Sports” was an elaborate ruse. After one glance at the ratings, MacClane changed his tune. He thought there was potential. If the producer could change a few things—its name, firstly— this could be an ideal collaboration.
“I wanted it to work,” MacClane says. “But they were stubborn. They wouldn’t change anything. They wouldn’t discuss relevant sports topics. They put me an awful place and made me the person I am today, for better or worse.”
The formula behind “Fart Turd Sports” wasn’t typical. Senormous only read scores from the previous night’s major league games. In between stories, Jimmy would hit a button on a soundboard—usually a fart, flush or honk. Jimmy’s favorite was hitting all three at the same time—a combo he called “Three’s Company.” The resulting cacophony made Titty respond, “Like, what are you even doing?” To which, Senormous would respond, “Typical Titty!”
After the first commercial break, Senormous discussed whatever came to mind. Some episodes involved lively discussions about church pastors, gas station taquitos, and Walmart sales.
“The show wasn’t rocket science,” Senormous says. “It was real people talking about real shit.”
MacClane disagrees, describing “Fart Turd Sports” as “the worst fucking show I had ever heard.” Barely a month into his new role, the then-producer was driven out of his mind.
“I didn’t know it was going to be that bad,” MacClane says. “I knew it would be silly, but I thought we could do something past modern sports radio. Maybe be like Howard Stern, but with sports. Our show had no talent.”
Each show got worse, MacClane adds, citing one episode where the trio discussed indigestion for 45 minutes. The show ended in a burping contest (Titty surprisingly won). At the time, it was the highest-rated episode, with an 8.9, according to media pundit/analyst Ray “T.O.” Shack.
Maybe “Fart Turd Sports” was a middle finger to sports conglomerations that sullied the format? Not a chance, says the former producer.
“It wasn’t dangerous. It was a bunch of rednecks with their hands down their pants, chuckling at each other,” MacClane says. “I showed them real danger.”
MacClane explains this during a telephone call from a humid, concrete cell in Angola State Penitentiary. He’s on his second year of a 45-year-sentence for manslaughter.
“Probably too much danger,” MacClane continues. “But, I can say—without a doubt—that show in February 2020 is my proudest moment.”
To be continued…